Tennessee Vols legend Jason Witten just got a major nod from the Volunteer State

Jason Witten, an Elizabethton alum and former Tennessee Volunteer and Dallas Cowboy, watches from the sidelines during the TSSAA Class 4A BlueCross Bowl football game between Tullahoma and Elizabethton held at Finley Stadium in Chattanooga, Tenn., on Saturday, Dec. 4, 2021. Brianna Paciorka/News Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

The VFL is one of the best players to ever come out of the state of Tennessee. Now, Witten will be recognized forever with the state’s highest sports honor.

The Tennessee Volunteers have had plenty of homegrown players take the field inside Neyland Stadium and become stars. However, few ever have put together the entire sports career that Jason Witten did over two decades on the gridiron.

Witten, who hails from Elizabethton in East Tennessee, played three years at Tennessee from 2000-02, becoming one of the best tight ends in program history. He went on to an illustrious 17-year career with the Dallas Cowboys and Las Vegas Raiders before retiring after the 2020 season.

Now, Witten will be enshrined forever as a legend of the Volunteer State. He found out on Thursday night that he is being inducted into the Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame as a member of the 2026 class.

Jason Witten was just surprised by the news that he has been selected for induction into the 2026 Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame. pic.twitter.com/IN0ljIbfyM

— Todd Archer (@toddarcher) April 17, 2026

Jason Witten to be inducted into Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame as a member of Class of 2026

"Jason Witten represents everything great about Tennessee football," said Brad Willis, Executive Director of the Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame, . "From his roots in Elizabethton to his standout career at the University of Tennessee and his remarkable success in the NFL, Jason has built a legacy defined by excellence, toughness, and leadership. We are proud to welcome him into the Class of 2026."